This time the band worked in Barker’s Los Angeles studio in a more focused environment, which Barker said was inspirational.

“We did 28 songs in a month and a half,” he said. “It was awesome. The chemistry was great. Everyone was in the studio putting in work, being creative. When you get that momentum going, the possibilities are endless.”

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Vocalist and guitarist Mark Hoppus said California contains a mix of old Blink sounds and newer, more experimental material. The lyrical themes, however, remain familiar:

“I write less about high-school stuff now than I did 15 or 20 years ago, but the topics are universal,” said Hoppus. “There is a lot of angst that could be teen angst or it could be angst of everyday life. I still have the same emotions I had 20 years ago – I get frustrated or I get excited. I still feel like I’m falling in love with my wife.”

Bassist Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio), who joined Blink-182 in 2015, said the album came smoothly and with little teeth-pulling.

“There were a lot of times I’d be in the vocal booth or in the control room and Mark or Travis would be tracking, and I would have to remind myself where I was because it felt so natural,” he said. “We all put a lot of effort into this and a lot of heart and thought, but it fit together like Legos.”